In the Black Mirror season 6 episode “Demon 79,” the story revolves around Nida (Anjana Vasan), a mild-mannered sales assistant working in a department store in northern England in 1979. One day, while having lunch in the store’s basement (she’s sequestered there due to the racism of her coworkers, who can’t stand the “smell” of her lunches), Nida discovers a talisman and accidentally cuts herself, causing her blood to activate it. This triggers the release of a demon named Gaap (Paapa Essiedu).
Gaap informs Nida that she must commit three murders within three days to prevent a catastrophic disaster from occurring on May Day. Reluctantly, Nida finds herself caught up in a sinister pact with the demon, compelled to carry out these acts to save the world.
Throughout the episode, Nida struggles with the moral dilemma of taking innocent lives and the psychological toll it takes on her. As she carries out the gruesome tasks, the audience is exposed to the dark consequences of her actions and the escalating tension as the deadline approaches.
The episode explores themes of sacrifice, the corrupting influence of power, and the inherent darkness that can reside within seemingly ordinary individuals. It delves into the depths of human morality and the lengths people may go to in order to preserve their own lives or protect others.
The episode plays with the potential of Nida having imagined the events of the episode. She’s taken into the police department after her murder attempt on politician Michael Smart. There, the talisman that began her communication with Gaap is revealed to simply be a domino piece, and audiences are left wondering what’s real.
However, while Nida sits in the station, the world outside her window is assaulted with fire and explosions—-the world very well seems to be ending, and not just for Nida. Just as Nida is about to implode under the weight of her guilt and the impending doom, Gaap returns and reveals that he is being banished to a realm of eternal nothingness for his failure in his first-ever task. He asks her to join him as his human companion, and she agrees. A happy-ish ending for the demon and his confidant.
Overall, “Demon 79” presents a chilling and suspenseful narrative set against the backdrop of 1970s horror aesthetics. It stands out as a departure from the usual technological focus of Black Mirror, exploring themes of morality, sacrifice, and the consequences of one’s choices.